consulate in libya last week a terrorist attack. but what remains under debate is whether that attack was planned or spontaneous. nbc's danielle lee has more on the tough questions from senators during the briefing on the state of u.s. security today. off awe s three of the top u.s. security officials called this scene last week, that deadly assault on the u.s. consulate in benghazi, libya, where four americans died, evidence the u.s. continues to be vulnerable to terrorist attacks. >> they were killed in the course of a terrorist attack. >> much else is unanswered or under dispute. was al qaeda involved? >> we are looking at indications that individuals in the attack may have had connections to al qaeda. >> was the attack planneded like libya insists or spontaneous as officials believe. >> i just don't think that people come to protest equipped with rpgs and other heavy weapons. >> we are conducting interviews. gathering evidence. trying to sort out the facts. >> as investigators sort out the facts. the families are laying their lo